Mexico: Support electricity workers of the Luz y Fuerza del Centro

The Mexican government recently announced the sacking of 44,000 electricity workers at the Luz y Fuerza del Centro. We have been approached for solidarity activity. Please take this up on your workplace.

On Sunday morning, the Federal Government in Mexico issued a decree terminating the operation of Luz y Fuerza del Centro, an energy company responsible for providing power to the central area of the country. The action was accompanied by severe attacks on the union that were already brewing for over a month.

The federal government last Sunday sacked more than 44,000 active workers and cutback the benefits of 22,000 retirees, a total of 66,000 workers and their families. All of them have been offered substantial settlements and bonuses of all kinds, of course, with the goal of demobilizing them and getting them to accept the sackings. However, there is very strong opposition within the ranks of the union. Although the movement is only just beginning to organize, there are signs that it will be a very long struggle, with fierce battles ahead.

We believe that greetings of workers internationally can help to encourage the workers and make them understand they are not isolated but have the backing of workers of all countries.

Below are the links to six articles [in Spanish] that have been published by the Mexican Marxists on this struggle in recent weeks:

Please spread the news of this struggle as widely as possible and use the model resolution to be voted on or signed by comrades with trade union positions, or branches of unions or workplace shop-steward committees.

Send the resolution to the workers in struggle: liga1916@gmail.com Please also send a copy to info@militante.org and editor@marxist.com

International Labour Solidarity with the Mexican Electricians’ Union

We, members of _____________ strongly oppose the liquidation of the public electricity company Luz y Fuerza del Centro (LyFC) and its trade union, the Mexican Electricians’ Union (SME), an organization which has existed for nearly a century and which has stood out for its firm opposition to plans to privatise the public industries, and is an example of struggle to millions of workers in the country.

The decree which liquidates LyFC, promoted by the Calderón administration, is one more in a series of measures to make the workers pay for the economic crisis of the capitalists; whether it be by raising taxes, reducing social expenditure (health, education housing, etc.) or closing down public enterprises.

But just as the bourgeoisie is determined to place the burden of the crisis onto the shoulders of the workers, the working class is ready to launch a struggle to stop this. Three days after the decree of liquidation of LyFC, there have been demonstrations in support of the SME in seven Mexican states (even though in four of these the LyFC company does not provide any service). The PRD (opposition party) has joined the calls for mobilization and the UNT trade union, which brings together other sectors as telephone workers, has expressed itself in favour of a nationwide strike.

The rank and file of the union are aware of the fact that to struggle is the only way. This conclusion is connecting with the mood of anger and discontent that exists throughout the country. The attack on the SME is bringing together the different sections that have been struggling since 2006 but were isolated.

The way the Felipe Calderón government has proceeded has shown the flexibility of bourgeois legality, which resorts to any flimsy excuse to defend their capitalist interests. The state has set in motion all the means at its disposal against the union, but we know that we have the international solidarity of the working class to develop this struggle further.

We, workers of ____________ support the struggle of the SME and we oppose the closure of LyFC. We are not prepared to allow the rights of the working class to continue to be trampled on.

Given all these abuses by the employers and at the same time the heroic struggle being pursued by these colleagues, the undersigned declare:

1 .- The workers of the Mexican Electricians’ Union are not alone. Their struggle against the attacks of the bourgeoisie is the struggle of all workers in the world. And this we will demonstrate.

2 .- We demand that the government of Felipe Calderón reverses immediately and unconditionally the decree of liquidation of the Luz y Fuerza del Centro company.

3 .- We are in favour of a 24-hour general strike called by the leadership of the UNT, PRD and CND, as a viable and necessary method of struggle to stop this attack.

4 .- We express our determination to take all kind of actions to show solidarity with our fellow EMS workers and strengthen their struggle.